The Flower Kings
Encyclopedia
The Flower Kings are a Swedish
progressive rock
group. Formed in August 1994 by veteran guitarist Roine Stolt
as a touring band to support his solo album The Flower King
, the band stayed together after the tour and have gone on to become one of the most prolific studio recording units in rock music of their era. In ten years they have released nearly 18 hours of music. Their music is similar to early symphonic
progressive rock groups such as Yes
, marked by sharp dynamic changes, polyrhythmics, heavy bass, vocal harmonies, abstract and occasionally nonsensical lyrics, and extended song lengths.
, bass
, and keyboards
), Jaime Salazar
(drums
), and Hasse Fröberg
(vocals). They later added Michael Stolt on bass and Tomas Bodin on keyboards for the supporting tour. Michael Stolt was replaced by Jonas Reingold
in 2000, and Jaime Salazar by Zoltan Csörsz
in 2002. Daniel Gildenlöw of Pain of Salvation
joined the band the same year as a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. Zoltan Csörsz was replaced by new drummer Marcus Liliequist for one album, but returned for the 2007 album, The Sum of No Evil
. He was subsequently replaced by Erik Hammarström in 2008.
In 2008, Ola Heden, previously of Reingold's side project Karmakanic
, joined on guitar, vocals and keyboards.
Other contributors have included Hasse Bruniusson (percussion
) and Ulf Wallander (saxophone
).
Roine Stolt has written the vast majority of the material the band has recorded, with Bodin contributing most of the rest. The music is best described as symphonic progressive rock, bearing a strong resemblance to the music of Yes
, King Crimson
, Gentle Giant
, and early Genesis
, with jazz fusion
and blues
influences. The band's lyrics are almost uniformly positive and uplifting, affirming such values as love, peace, and spirituality, and furthering their association with Yes.
Their 1999 album Flower Power
contains one of the longest progressive rock tracks ever recorded, the eighteen-section, nearly 60-minute "Garden of Dreams."
Roine Stolt recorded three albums with supergroup Transatlantic
, with members of Dream Theater
, Spock's Beard
, and Marillion
, in 2000, 2001, and 2009.
In June 2007 they released The Road Back Home
, a compilation of remixed songs from 1994 to 2006, plus "Little Deceiver" (a previously unreleased track) and the full version of their cover of Genesis
' "The Cinema Show
". http://www.flowerkings.se/?s=news
In November 2008 the band were the opening act of the Ecco Prog Fest
in Moscow
.
Guest musicians
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
group. Formed in August 1994 by veteran guitarist Roine Stolt
Roine Stolt
Roine Stolt is a Swedish guitarist, vocalist and composer.A major figure in Sweden's rock history, guitarist/singer/composer Roine Stolt led two of his country's most successful progressive rock bands: Kaipa in the 1970s and The Flower Kings in the 1990s onward...
as a touring band to support his solo album The Flower King
The Flower King
-Personnel:*Roine Stolt - lead vocals , guitars, , bass , keyboards , percussion *Hasse Fröberg - vocals *Ulf Wallander - Soprano saxophone *Hasse Brunisson - drums , percussion...
, the band stayed together after the tour and have gone on to become one of the most prolific studio recording units in rock music of their era. In ten years they have released nearly 18 hours of music. Their music is similar to early symphonic
Symphonic rock
Symphonic rock is a sub-genre of progressive rock. Since early in progressive rock's history, the term has been used sometimes to distinguish more classically influenced progressive rock from the more psychedelic and experimental forms of progressive rock....
progressive rock groups such as Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
, marked by sharp dynamic changes, polyrhythmics, heavy bass, vocal harmonies, abstract and occasionally nonsensical lyrics, and extended song lengths.
History
The Flower Kings have seen frequent personnel changes. The original line-up for Stolt's solo album consisted of Stolt (vocals, electric guitarElectric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, and keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
), Jaime Salazar
Jaime Salazar
Jaime Salazar is a Mexican football midfielder who played for Mexico in the 1958 FIFA World Cup. He also played for Club Necaxa.-External links:*...
(drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
), and Hasse Fröberg
Hasse Fröberg
Hasse Fröberg is a Swedish guitarist, composer and vocalist with a warm voice, high pitch, and a fairly clear Swedish accent when singing in English. Hasse Fröberg fronted a handful of hard rock bands before joining prog rockers The Flower Kings as a full-time member.-Biography:Hasse entered the...
(vocals). They later added Michael Stolt on bass and Tomas Bodin on keyboards for the supporting tour. Michael Stolt was replaced by Jonas Reingold
Jonas Reingold
Jonas Reingold is a bass guitar player from Malmö, Sweden. He started to play bass in 1986 when he subbed for a friend in the local famous act WIRE. The band was happy with his performance and offered him the spot...
in 2000, and Jaime Salazar by Zoltan Csörsz
Zoltan Csörsz
Zoltan Csörsz is a Hungarian drummer who is most well known as the current drummer with the progressive rock band The Flower Kings.- Biography :...
in 2002. Daniel Gildenlöw of Pain of Salvation
Pain of Salvation
Pain of Salvation is a Swedish progressive rock band featuring Daniel Gildenlöw, who is the lyricist, chief composer, guitarist, and lead vocalist. Their sound is characterised by powerful, accentuated guitar work, broad vocal range, abrupt switching between heavy and calm passages, intense...
joined the band the same year as a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. Zoltan Csörsz was replaced by new drummer Marcus Liliequist for one album, but returned for the 2007 album, The Sum of No Evil
The Sum of No Evil
-Personnel:* Roine Stolt - Vocals, guitars, additional keyboards* Tomas Bodin - Piano, organ, synthesizers, mellotron* Hasse Fröberg - Vocals, guitars* Jonas Reingold - Bass* Zoltan Csörsz - Drumswith* Hasse Bruniusson - Percussion, marimba, glockenspiel...
. He was subsequently replaced by Erik Hammarström in 2008.
In 2008, Ola Heden, previously of Reingold's side project Karmakanic
Karmakanic
Karmakanic are a progressive rock / metal group founded in Malmö, Sweden in 2002 by bassist and keyboardist Jonas Reingold. Their music is marked by sharp dynamic contrasts, sudden full stops, complex timing and metre changes, abstract lyrics, and long periods of instrumentation...
, joined on guitar, vocals and keyboards.
Other contributors have included Hasse Bruniusson (percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
) and Ulf Wallander (saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
).
Roine Stolt has written the vast majority of the material the band has recorded, with Bodin contributing most of the rest. The music is best described as symphonic progressive rock, bearing a strong resemblance to the music of Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
, King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
, Gentle Giant
Gentle Giant
Gentle Giant were a British progressive rock band active between 1970 and 1980. The band was known for the complexity and sophistication of its music and for the varied musical skills of its members. All of the band members, except the first two drummers, were multi-instrumentalists...
, and early Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
, with jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
and blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
influences. The band's lyrics are almost uniformly positive and uplifting, affirming such values as love, peace, and spirituality, and furthering their association with Yes.
Their 1999 album Flower Power
Flower Power (album)
-Disc Two:-Credits:*Roine Stolt - vocals, guitars, keyboards & bass*Tomas Bodin - keyboards*Michael Stolt - bass*Jaime Salazar - drums*Hans Bruniusson - percussion*Hans Fröberg - vocals*Ulf Wallander - soprano sax...
contains one of the longest progressive rock tracks ever recorded, the eighteen-section, nearly 60-minute "Garden of Dreams."
Roine Stolt recorded three albums with supergroup Transatlantic
Transatlantic (band)
Transatlantic is a progressive rock supergroup consisting of Roine Stolt of The Flower Kings, Pete Trewavas of Marillion, Mike Portnoy formerly of Dream Theater and Neal Morse formerly of Spock's Beard. They formed in 1999 as a side project to their full time bands until 2002...
, with members of Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
, Spock's Beard
Spock's Beard
Spock's Beard is a progressive rock band formed in 1992 in Los Angeles by brothers Neal and Alan Morse. Neal played keyboards and was the lead vocalist, as well as being the primary songwriter before leaving the band in 2002 to pursue a solo career. Alan plays electric guitar...
, and Marillion
Marillion
Marillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, England in 1979. Their recorded studio output comprises sixteen albums generally regarded in two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988, and the subsequent arrival of replacement Steve...
, in 2000, 2001, and 2009.
In June 2007 they released The Road Back Home
The Road Back Home
The Road Back Home is the second compilation album by Swedish progressive rock band The Flower Kings.It's a double album that features some of the group's shorter and more straightforward songs, rather than their usual long/complex epic songs...
, a compilation of remixed songs from 1994 to 2006, plus "Little Deceiver" (a previously unreleased track) and the full version of their cover of Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
' "The Cinema Show
The Cinema Show
"The Cinema Show" is an epic rock song by British progressive rock band Genesis from their 1973 album, Selling England by the Pound.Musically, the song is divided into two main sections: The first section is a gentle 12-string guitar-based piece, featuring vocal harmonies between Peter Gabriel and...
". http://www.flowerkings.se/?s=news
In November 2008 the band were the opening act of the Ecco Prog Fest
InProg
InProg is an international progressive rock festival held almost yearly since 2001 in Moscow, Russia.The festival was organised by the Russian Rock-magazine InRock....
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
Personnel
Current members- Roine StoltRoine StoltRoine Stolt is a Swedish guitarist, vocalist and composer.A major figure in Sweden's rock history, guitarist/singer/composer Roine Stolt led two of his country's most successful progressive rock bands: Kaipa in the 1970s and The Flower Kings in the 1990s onward...
- guitar, vocals, keyboards, bass guitar (1995–present) - Tomas Bodin - keyboards (1995–present)
- Hasse FröbergHasse FröbergHasse Fröberg is a Swedish guitarist, composer and vocalist with a warm voice, high pitch, and a fairly clear Swedish accent when singing in English. Hasse Fröberg fronted a handful of hard rock bands before joining prog rockers The Flower Kings as a full-time member.-Biography:Hasse entered the...
- vocals, guitar (1995–present) - Hasse Bruniusson - percussion (1995–present)
- Jonas ReingoldJonas ReingoldJonas Reingold is a bass guitar player from Malmö, Sweden. He started to play bass in 1986 when he subbed for a friend in the local famous act WIRE. The band was happy with his performance and offered him the spot...
- bass guitar (1999–present) - Erik Hammarström - drums (2008–present)
- Ola Heden - vocals, keyboards, guitar (2008–present)
Former members
- Jaime Salazar - drums (1995–2001)
- Michael Stolt - bass guitar (1995–1999)
- Zoltan CsörszZoltan CsörszZoltan Csörsz is a Hungarian drummer who is most well known as the current drummer with the progressive rock band The Flower Kings.- Biography :...
- drums (2001–2005; 2007) - Daniel GildenlöwDaniel GildenlöwDaniel Gildenlöw is a Swedish musician and songwriter. He is best known as a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist for Pain of Salvation, a Swedish progressive metal band. In the band, he is the main songwriter, lead guitar player, and the mastermind behind each album's concept...
- vocals, guitars, keyboards (2002–2004) - Marcus Liliequist - drums (2005–2006)
Guest musicians
- Pat MastelottoPat MastelottoPat Mastelotto is a rock drummer who has worked with Mr. Mister and King Crimson, amongst others. For King Crimson he initially formed part of the "double trio" lineup, joining Bill Bruford on drums...
- drums (2007)
Studio Albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1994 | The Flower King The Flower King -Personnel:*Roine Stolt - lead vocals , guitars, , bass , keyboards , percussion *Hasse Fröberg - vocals *Ulf Wallander - Soprano saxophone *Hasse Brunisson - drums , percussion...
|
| 1995 | Back in the World of Adventures Back in the World of Adventures -Personnel:*Hans Fröberg - Lead & backing vocals*Roine Stolt - vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass*Tomas Bodin - keyboards*Michael Stolt - bass*Jaime Salazar - drums*Hans Bruniusson - percussion, drums*Ulf Wallander: soprano saxophone-Production:... |
| 1996 | Retropolis Retropolis Retropolis, released in 1996, is the second studio album by Swedish progressive rock band The Flower Kings... |
| 1997 | Stardust We Are Stardust We Are -Credits:*Roine Stolt - vocals, guitars, keyboards & bass*Tomas Bodin - keyboards*Michael Stolt - bass*Jaime Salazar - drums*Hans Bruniusson - percussion*Hans Fröberg - vocals*Ulf Wallander - soprano sax... |
| 1999 | Flower Power Flower Power (album) -Disc Two:-Credits:*Roine Stolt - vocals, guitars, keyboards & bass*Tomas Bodin - keyboards*Michael Stolt - bass*Jaime Salazar - drums*Hans Bruniusson - percussion*Hans Fröberg - vocals*Ulf Wallander - soprano sax... |
| 2000 | Space Revolver Space Revolver -Japanese version:The Japanese release contains an additional disc:-Personnel:*Roine Stolt - vocals, guitar, bass guitar*Tomas Bodin - piano, organ, synthesizer, Mellotron*Hans Fröberg - vocals, acoustic guitar*Jonas Reingold - bass guitar... |
| 2001 | The Rainmaker The Rainmaker (album) -Limited Edition Bonus Disc:-Personnel:*Roine Stolt - vocals, guitars, additional keyboards*Tomas Bodin - keyboards*Hans Fröberg - vocals*Jonas Reingold - bass guitar*Jaime Salazar - drumswith*Hans Bruniusson - percussion*Ulf Wallander - soprano sax... |
| 2002 | Unfold the Future Unfold the Future -Disc Two:-Main Band:Tomas Bodin - keyboardsHasse Bruniusson - marimba, glockenspiel, dulcimer, other percussionZoltan Csörsz - drumsHasse Fröberg - vocals, guitarsJonas Reingold - bass guitarRoine Stolt - vocals, guitars, keyboards-Guest Musicians:... |
| 2004 | Adam & Eve Adam & Eve (album) Adam & Eve is the eighth studio album by progressive rock band The Flower Kings. A Japanese edition contained an extra disc which includes the bonus tracks from The Rainmaker bonus disc , as well as three songs recorded during the Space Revolver sessions.The album also marks the first and only... |
| 2006 | Paradox Hotel Paradox Hotel -Disc Two - "Room 222":-Personnel:*Tomas Bodin - keyboards, vocals*Hasse Bruniusson - marimba, percussion*Hasse Fröberg - vocals, guitars*Marcus Liliequist - drums, percussion, vocals*Jonas Reingold - bass guitar*Roine Stolt - vocals, guitars... |
| 2007 | The Sum of No Evil The Sum of No Evil -Personnel:* Roine Stolt - Vocals, guitars, additional keyboards* Tomas Bodin - Piano, organ, synthesizers, mellotron* Hasse Fröberg - Vocals, guitars* Jonas Reingold - Bass* Zoltan Csörsz - Drumswith* Hasse Bruniusson - Percussion, marimba, glockenspiel... |
Live albums
- Alive On Planet EarthAlive on Planet EarthAlive on Planet Earth is the first live album by progressive rock artists The Flower Kings. It was released in double-CD format in 2000.-Disc One:# "There Is More To This World" – 11:31# "Church Of Your Heart" – 9:41...
(2000) (double live CD) - Meet The Flower KingsMeet the Flower KingsMeet the Flower Kings is the second live album by progressive rock artists The Flower Kings. It was released in 2003 as a double-CD, and also as a two-disc DVD concert video...
(2003) (double live CD and DVD, available separately or together) - Instant DeliveryInstant DeliveryInstant Delivery is the third live album by progressive rock artists The Flower Kings. Recorded in Tilburg, Netherlands on April 19, 2006, this album features live music on their tour promoting Paradox Hotel...
(2006) (double live DVD concert, limited edition includes double cd and booklet) - Tour Kaputt (2011) (double live CD and DVD, available separately or together) TBA July 2011
Limited Edition Official Bootlegs
- Édition Limitée Québec (1998) (unreleased and live tracks)
- The Rainmaker Tour 2001 (downloadable from website, not commercially available)
- Live In New York - Official Bootleg (2002)
- BetchaWannaDanceStoopid!!! (2004)
- Carpe Diem - Live In USA 2006Carpe Diem - The Flower Kings Live in USACarpe Diem — Live in USA 2006 is an official bootleg by Swedish progressive rock band The Flower Kings. It features The Flower Kings performance at Whittier California on October 16th, 2006, plus a bonus track from their show at Quebec City....
(2008)
Fan Club albums
- Fan Club 2000 (2000)
- Fan Club 2002 (2002)
- Fan Club 2004 (2004)
- Fan Club 2005 / Harvest (2005)
Compilations
- Scanning the GreenhouseScanning the GreenhouseScanning The Greenhouse is the first compilation album by Swedish progressive rock band The Flower Kings.This album features songs from their first four studio albums and focuses more in long tracks, almost all of them with more than 10 minutes...
(1998) - Progressive Rock Anthems (various artists) (2001)
- The Road Back HomeThe Road Back HomeThe Road Back Home is the second compilation album by Swedish progressive rock band The Flower Kings.It's a double album that features some of the group's shorter and more straightforward songs, rather than their usual long/complex epic songs...
(2007)